The West Shore

The City of Colwood

Incorporated in 1985, the City of Colwood is divided into residential pockets such as Triangle Mountain, Colwood Creek, Colwood Lake Estates, Wishart and Lagoon areas. There are business centres at Colwood Corners and Hatley Park.

The area offers a variety of recreational pursuits. The Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre is considered to be one of the most complete sport complexes in the province. For the golf enthusiast, there are the Royal Colwood and Olympic View golf courses as well as the nine hole Juan de Fuca course. The area offers a nature reserve as well as a beach for sun tanning, swimming, wind-surfing, sailing or just walking. Views of downtown and views of the American coast over the Strait of Juan de Fuca are also enjoyed. In addition, there are a number of smaller parks. Colwood is also home to Royal Roads University.

Garbage collection is done on a private basis and the area is policed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The Fire Department is a mix of regular and volunteer members. The area is well served by public transit. There is a private medical clinic available in Colwood Corners for emergency assistance, but most medical problems are taken care of at the Victoria General Hospital located on Helmcken Road which is very close by.

The City of Langford

The Langford area is large, extending from West Saanich to View Royal, along Colwood, Metchosin, Sooke and northwards including portions of the Malahat Drive. Incorporated in 1992, the City of Langford is divided into distinct areas such as Glen Lake, Happy Valley, Florence Lake, Langford Proper, Thetis Heights and the Goldstream Area. There is a business and commercial area running from the Goldstream/Millstream intersection to Jacklin Road and extending to Westshore Town Centre on Kelly Road.

The area has a large number of lakes and parks, offering a variety of recreational pursuits. The larger lakes include Thetis Lake, Langford Lake, Glen Lake and Florence Lake. The ever-popular Goldstream Park also has a provincial campground and is famous for its annual salmon spawn.

Langford also includes the Olympic View and Bear Mountain developments featuring golf courses, a hotel and spa along with residential housing.

Most of the community is served by a municipal water system however there are large parts that are serviced by private wells. Septic tanks and septic fields are the norm though some areas are served by private sewage systems. Garbage pickup is done on a private basis. There is bus service throughout the area. Langford is policed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

The Town of View Royal

The town of View Royal was incorporated in 1988 and encompasses 1,007 hectares (2,488 acres) of land and 253 hectares (626 acres) of foreshore and land covered by water.

View Royal lies at the doorstep of Greater Victoria's urban core and adjacent to the established municipalities of Esquimalt and Saanich.

View Royal is served by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Waste disposal is done on a private basis and areas within the township are protected by a tree-cutting bylaw.

View Royal has been divided into seven distinct Precincts based on such factors as topography, major transportation corridors, natural environment and the age of housing stock. They are Craigflower, Harbour, Helmcken, Hospital, Burnside, Atkins and Wilfert. Each Precinct can also be described and identified according to its population, the number of dwelling units by type and ownership, the amount of land available for new development and the presence of commercial and retail land uses.

The District of Metchosin

Metchosin is mainly a rural community with large parcels of land. It includes areas such as Albert Head, William Head, Rocky Point, Happy Valley and the Kangaroo Road areas.

Horseback riding, nature trails and parks are common in the district, which also offers a number of golf courses. Matheson Lake is popular for swimming and hiking. Witty's Lagoon is an oceanfront area for a variety of sports and for relaxation. Pedder Bay is well known for its fishing and Metchosin is the setting for Pearson College, which attracts students from all over the world. As the area is mainly rural, there are a variety of farm-related organizations and horse and riding clubs.

Parts of the community are served by a community water system however there are large parts that are serviced by private wells. Septic tanks and septic fields are the norm. There are also some private sewage systems. Garbage collection is done on a private basis. There is limited bus service throughout the area, both for public transport and for schools. Metchosin falls under the jurisdiction of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and has a volunteer Fire Department.

The District of Highlands

Many people choose to live in the Highlands because of its rural character and natural beauty. Residents are encouraged to build their homes with the least environmental impact by minimizing vegetation removal, using materials that blend in with the landscape and positioning homes so that they are not highly visible from the road or viewpoints.

Mount Work Regional Park boasts swimming holes, fishing spots and hilly terrain as well as the highest peak on the Saanich Peninsula. Lone Tree Regional Park has a two kilometre trail that winds uphill, leading hikers to fabulous views of the Highlands, Victoria and the Olympic Mountains.

During a normal winter, the Highlands experiences cooler temperatures and more rainfall than Victoria, which is needed to recharge well water resources and maintain ecosystems during dryer conditions that occur during the summer and fall months.

The Highlands is home to many interesting plants and ecosystems such as wetlands, woodlands, wildflowers and old growth trees. The roads are scenic, narrow and winding.